Saturday, October 31, 2009

"And ghost stories are the very best stories of all. The tale-teller speaks in a hushed voice that inspires shivers and shakes and half-frightened silences, whilst the conjured spirits lurk, listening, in the dark corners of the room. At last, the fire burns down, the cider is drunk up, and the storyteller and the audience creep off to bed, where they hurriedly say their prayers and pull the covers over their heads very fast, before the fairies or ghosts or trolls can come out of their corners and carry them off. "From "The Tale of Applebeck Orchard" by Susan Wittig Albert

Doesn't everyone like a ghost story at Halloween, especially when it is told in the dark? There was no chance for the children to be frightened of Halloween Ghosties today because they Trick or Treated in daylight. Fifteen hundred children, plus parents, were expected on Main Street in Orange to fill their goodie bags.

Here are some of the costumed Trick or Treaters.

This pooch was dressed up but wanted to get so close to the camera that his outfit didn't show!

Thursday, October 29, 2009

Every summer B and I stop the car and remove turtles from the road. We save about twelve a year. They move so slowly that many of them get hit. Why can't people be careful and avoid them? Usually I move the turtle off the road in the direction he/she was going. When I approach the turtle he usually pulls his head in and closes up. Not this one! He put on a burst of speed and crossed the road by himself! You can see that he is actually blurred in the picture. I was lucky to have my camera with me.

Actually I think it is a she because of the height of the shell. Boys have a high dome shaped shell.After she moved into the woods, she closed her shell and dismissed me.Here is some information from a web site about Box Turtles."Box Turtles are some of the longest lived and slowest reproducing species in the world. Although still fairly common over much of their range, their future is uncertain. Box turtles are slow growing, have few young, and have exhibited delayed sexual maturity. These qualities make them particularly susceptible to damage due to human activities.

"Box turtles may also wander out of their isolated habitats into the matrix (the land used by humans), where they are particularly susceptible to accidental death due to humans. Each year countless box turtles are hit by cars or trains when they attempt to cross roads or railroads. Others are accidentally killed by lawn mowers, tractors, and farm equipment. "Another concern is the capture of box turtles for the pet trade. The impact of taking turtles from the wild can be devastating to local populations. Over the span of their lifetime, female turtles will lay hundreds of eggs, but only 2-3 of these offspring will survive to adulthood. These offspring will eventually replace their elderly parents, allowing the population to remain at a stable size. But, if box turtles are taken from the wild to become pets, or are killed by human activities, they are removed from the overall breeding population, the number of offspring drops, and the overall population declines.

Additionally, box turtles have a homing instinct that causes them to try to return to the place of their birth if they are moved. As a result, when box turtles that have been taken as pets are returned to the wild, they will head straight for their natal grounds. This journey causes the turtles to encounter many dangers, such as roads, predators, and humans. For these reasons, if you are looking for a pet, you should try to find a captive-bred animal or consider a different pet."

If you see a turtle in the road, please help him/her get to the other side. But if it is a huge snapping turtle, "assist" it with a long stick or shovel.

Saturday, October 24, 2009

We have had alternating rain and sun today. Everything looked so pretty with the sun on it. The wetness really brought out the color. It was warm (72) and breezy. The leaves were "raining" down. I kept thinking, "Don't fall, don't fall. I'm not ready for bare trees!"

This dogwood tree is about two feet from our dining room windows which are on the second floor on that side because of the daylight basement. So we look right out into the foliage. It is amusing to see the squirrels jump from the roof and land in the tree. They have been snacking on the nice red berries. Dining with us perhaps we can say! I leaned out from the porch and snapped this picture during our first rain of the day.

Here is a close up so you can see the water running off the roof. I was getting a little wet.

And then the sun came out! I took this picture from the other side of the porch.

Today is our 44th anniversary! It seems a long time ... and then it doesn't. It's sad that we forget so much of our lives, but I suppose our brain only has a certain amount of space. I wish I could remember every single minute. Sometimes when I look at B, I flash back and he looks, for a moment, like he did years ago. The same devil is in him and he says the most outrageous things! (No wonder my parents didn't know what to make of him.)

We've had some great times, a few sad times and lots of excitement with four children and now we've added two spouses. We remodeled many houses, drove from Maine to Georgia many times (Are we there yet? No, two more days!). Think of how many meals cooked and dishes washed. And how many "I love you's" have been said? (At least two a day by two people for 44 years! That is 64,240 I love you's! And, God willing, more to come!

Friday, October 23, 2009

I am learning how to do this Blog as I do most things - logic and trail and error. Not having friends who blog is a disadvantage as I have no one to ask about different features. I was clicking around to learn about my "Followers" and I came into Google Friends Connect. This was all new to me and I was hesitant to sign up. I always worry about getting into something I can't get out of. So can any of you inform me about what my duties are to my "Followers?" I didn't understand the advantages of Friends Connect and why there is the option to block people.

Many people mention their Blogging Friends and they seem to be planning things together online, like links and events. Is this done through Friends Connect? I really would appreciate some guidance! Thanks in advance.

Thursday, October 22, 2009

If you like old houses and "housepeeping" as another blogger termed it, then what could be better than a stay at a very old house in Coventry, Connecticut in October!? Our daughter and son-in-law gave us a gift certificate last Christmas for two nights at the Daniel Rust House. They had stayed there and were sure that B and I would enjoy it as much as they did. They were right! It was wonderful! We used to live in New England and we really miss it in the fall.

Since it snowed the day after we left, (Oct. 14) it must have looked just like this! I borrowed this photo from the official web site.

Here is the hutch in the Tavern room where breakfast is served. It was a cozy room with a fireplace and small paned windows with some original glass. When you go, ask to see the initials scratched into a bedroom window!

Breakfast, prepared by our hostesses, Germaine and Cathy, was a delight! Here you see lemon poppy seed muffins. After breakfast, Germaine gave me a tour of the house, from the basement to the second floor. While I toured, B sat in the keeping room with Sea Biscuit and Silver, the cat.

Here I am talking with Sea Biscuit, a very gentle and friendly Great Dane.

The "Anna White Room" is on the second floor. It has a fireplace and a private bath with a huge jacuzzi tub. Two more bedrooms are on this floor, each with a private bath.

Walking into the kitchen full of good smells felt very welcoming!

B and I stayed here in the Maybelle Cottage. It even had a tiny kitchen and a fireplace. We went to sleep watching the flicker of flames.

This is the long driveway that leads to a quiet lane - a nice place to walk. I loved the stone walls and the big trees.

When you turn into the driveway, this beautiful old wagon is the first thing you see. Doesn't it look lovely full of mums and pumpkins? It was pretty chilly the morning I made this picture but I knew that Germaine and Cathy would be waiting with a cup of strong coffee and a big breakfast!Heaven! We had a wonderful trip.

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

My favorite snuggly jacket had a big mystery spot - right in the front! B's new jacket had grease on the arm and my ivory table cloth had numerous spots after a family birthday dinner. I didn't think anything I had in my laundry arsenal would be up to the job.

I'm not usually an impulse buyer, but at the checkout counter at A. C. Moore there was a small bottle with the label "Grandma's Secret Spot Remover." I asked the cashier what she knew about it, and while she hadn't used it, she said other people reported good results. Being a skeptic, I hesitated to spend $4.00 from my "craft money." Then I balanced $4.00 against the cost of 1. A new jacket for me 2. A new jacket for B 3. a new tablecloth.

Yes, I bought "Grandma's Secret Spot Remover!" And I'm glad I did! See my jacket? No spot! I dabbed the remover on all the spots and worked it in, waited 5-10 minutes, washed the spots by hand then put the garments in the machine. All the spots came out!

Sunday, October 18, 2009

We hadn't returned to New England during the fall since we left Maine twenty-one years ago. So we were eager to experience a New England fall. What an experience it is! We toured the North East Corner of Connecticut. So many apple orchard/farm stands. In one mile there were three!!This lovely tree was in a rest area off I-81 in Pennsylvania. Notice the red barn in the background. It was a cloudy, misty day.

These apples were at Rogers Orchard in Southington, CT. Their cider donuts were to die for! We had cider and donuts and took home the best apple pie I ever ate! We also bought a bag of "Honey Crisp" apples -my new favorite variety. They were crisp, juicy and sweet! What a treat with a tub of caramel dip. Yummy!

I also bought some shell beans. My neighbor in Maine used to give me shell beans from her garden.This mill pond and buildings were part of a cluster of buildings that were full of shops. There was a mill race where the water was rushing through.Aren't these decorative gourds - decorative? Don't you love fall in New England!

Thursday, October 15, 2009

B asked me if I wanted to go for a ride. As a surprise he took me to the Somerset Country Store and bought me a barbecue sandwich. The store sits at the intersection of routes 231 and 20 in a very scenic area a few miles away from Montpelier, the home of James and Dolley Madison. I love barbecue - southern genes I think. We took our sandwiches and drove down the road and picnicked and enjoyed the scenery.We parked beside a country church and enjoyed this view. There was a very friendly cat who was curious about us.

Across the street was this field of soybeans that were turning yellow. You can see the mountains in the background. It was a lovely picnic and a nice surprise!

Thursday, October 8, 2009

Most of us recycle. Where I live in Virginia they pick up trash but they don't pick up recyclables. So we have plastic trash cans where we keep our glass, cans and plastic until we take them to the County Center. We also recycle paper and cardboard.

I am always looking for ways to reuse things instead of recycling. This is the time of year to bring in plants that will, hopefully, thrive indoors this winter. But I don't have enough saucers or trays to put under my pots. Here is my solution for a small pot. Cut the bottom off a large soda bottle.Here is my pot on the window sill. See the Pepsi bottom under it? This way the water will not leak onto the sill. I'm sure all of you have good ideas to share!

Tuesday, October 6, 2009

Do you save old magazines like I do? If you wait long enough to re-read them it is like having a new magazine! And they are just too full of good ideas to throw away! I used to tear out my favorite photos and put them in file folders. Now I keep the magazines intact and put sticky notes on the photos I like.From "Country Living" March 2007, this is a lovely, bright, inviting bedroom. Notice the interesting ceiling and the column in the corner. I'm not sure that headboard is practical in a fabric, maybe leather or vinyl would be more durable. Leaning against the headboard might soil it after a time, even with a scotchguard treatment.From "Country Living" April 2007. What a romantic room. When my daughter was young we did her bed like this. She had an old iron bed that we bought at an auction. (That bed is now in her guest room minus the net). The net similar to this we found at Pier 1. She loved it!